89 Smith St Charleston, SC 29401

Listing details for 89 Smith St, Charleston, SC 29401 : The Bennett-Jones house is a stunning antebellum house awaiting your touch. The hard work is done. Preliminary plans and demolition are complete, the space is ready for your renovation. This is a rare opportunity to personalize and complete the restoration of one of Charleston's finest houses. A truly great opportunity as few houses can match the architectural quality of Bennett-Jones house. ''This Greek Revival residence is one of the most significant, architecturally, in the city'' according to Robert Stockton, historian and professor of Architecture at the College of Charleston.Built in 1840 by Jefferson Bennett, son of Governor Bennett, 89 Smith Street was built in the grand Greek Revival style and overlooked the family's extensive mill ponds.The Bennetts were a family of mansion builders and amateur architects. The residence is also notable as it was home of Edward C. Jones, one of Charleston's and South Carolina's most famous architects of the antebellum period. Jones added the Doric columned portico on Smith Street and displayed his signature eclectic style with the addition of polygonal bay windows with a mix of Gothic, Roman, and Egyptian detailing. Not only will you be hard pressed to find a better house architecturally, but it would be harder yet to find one as intact. There is so much original detail. Mahogany doors with original hardware, pristine heart pine floors, Belgian Marble mantels, plaster walls and decorative moldings are all intact. An elegant Greek Revival double door with sidelights and a transom sets the tone on entry. Flanking the spacious entry hall are two grand rooms, each 16' x 19'. The high ceilings are adorned with impressive plaster moldings and ceiling medallions and each room has an exquisite Belgian marble mantel. All of these have special designs for each room. The second owner, architect Edward C. Jones, added the unique niches in each of these rooms. Directly behind the entry hall is a beautiful curving staircase that springs from a stunning Greek Lyre inspired newel post. The elegant stair curves up to the second floor and includes a period correct, statuary niche. Behind the grand stair, through the large double doors is well lit gallery space, that makes the perfect breakfast room, with access the opened-up piazza behind the commanding Greek Revival Columns. Behind the living room is space for a unique den/family room as well as a powder room. To the rear of the dining room is the potential for a spacious modern kitchen, even with room for an elevator, all opening onto the rear piazza. The upstairs mirrors the main floor, with two 16' x 19' grand bedrooms on either side of the stair hall. These feature more versions of elaborate plaster moldings and distinctive Belgian marble mantles. There is a spacious third room off of the back of the stair hall. This room can be a sitting room or a guest room. From this room one can access to the top floor piazza. The ground floor features 2 bedrooms and bath as well as space which can be used for everything from a mud room, laundry, lots of storage, and a tool room/workshop. From this level large glass doors access a covered outdoor space with a cement floor. There is a small garden behind. A side driveway can accommodate two cars. The house has a potential of 4 to 5 bedrooms, 4 ½ baths, and 4586 square feet* (see below). The house is rated as "EXCELLENT" in the Historic Architecture Inventory of the City of Charleston. "High style regional architecture, fine 'Charleston Style', well designed and proportioned, with good detail. These are spirited, dignified, frequently innovative, rare, and always attractive and interesting. Of irreplaceable importance, to be preserved in situ at all costs." It was awarded the prestigious Carolopolis Award for rehabilitation in 1989 and is now ready for another award winning renovation. *According to measurements by Charleston Measuring the two main levels have living areas of 3,177 sf. The ground floor was also measured with an additional 1,409 sf but with a ceiling height just under 7'. The total for the house is 4,586 sf. Please note that images of the house furnished are from the previous listing (Feb 2022) with permission. Renderings also provided of potential kitchen and master bath.